[thepoth]

Well as some of you probably recall I was never a fan of the Branch trade. I am just wondering what others are thinking now that he has had a few subpar(for the 1st round pick and huge salary)seasons, and now has blown his MCL which will keep him out till midseason next year, not to mention rob him of speed/quickness and cutting abilities for the rest of his career.

 

[Red Neckersom]

I don't think he will be back at all. Hackett and Obumanu will take his place and be even better. Its about time Seattle has some big tall receivers. With Hackett, Burleson, and Obumano and maybe Taylor as the fifth receiver next year and of course the best flanker anywhere, Bobby Engram. They will be fun to watch. If they can get a running game, its game over for the rest of the NFL.

Very disappointing, but you have to give the Seahawks some props for trying to win the big game before their window closes and the rebuilding starts. Tup:

 

[DBAppraiser]

I would agree that the trade has not worked out as well as hoped for. I would say this though too, that there is no guarantees with a #1 pick either, plenty of players enter the league in the 1st round and do not pan out. One other thing to keep in mind is that rookies typically do not put a team over the top but the right veteran pick up can make a big difference and that is why he was aquired. Maybe you weren't in favor of the trade but no one could have seen into the future and predicted the knee injury or the calf injury. That pick was #24 out of 32 in the 1st round of the 2007 draft and the Patriots used it to take Brandon Meriweather, who doesn't start for them. BTW, plenty of guys have MCL and ACL surgery and continue to have productive careers these days. IF you look at Branch's stats for his 6 year career they have been pretty consistent.

 

[AkKings]

Here's an idea, find a real #2 QB and make Seneca a receiver/kick returner.

 

[dmack]

I agree with all of the above posted. Go Hawks!!

 

[thepoth]

Red, I do agree that they were seizing the moment and going for it all, and on that account I can't blame them. I will just allways think they payed too dearly with big $$, and the 1st round pick. Too much IMO for a tiny guy who's numbers were made by the best coach and QB in the NFL. He has never broken 100 receptions in a year, and worse he has never had good amounts of TD catches. He showed me the last 2 seasons what I had thought - that he has some quickness with underneath cuts and whatnot - but does not posess deep speed at all - he just does'nt run by coverage at all, frequently being blanketed on any deeper post type routes. Yes D I agree there is no garuntees with 1st round picks, but most contribute, with right around 50 percent becoming starters in a few years - and most importantly for very cheap(unless a top 3 type pick). I dunno I was just really hoping to be dead wrong on my Branch trade bashing, but it appears like it's become worse than I had imagined now that he's blown his knee, yeeech. I think the Hawks have 1 more good year to take a good shot at it all before they will need/should begin a rebuilding process, as we will be very low on cap space,old at key positions, and probably be starting out with a new coach after next year. No one could say anything bad about our team - so far we have made the playoffs 5 years in a row with a Superbowl appearance, with only Indy, and New England at or above our acheivements.

 

[cmessling07]

we definitely couldve gotten a better reciever for a first round pick if we looked hard enough

they were desperate for a big name guy with playoff experience.

Heres an idea...we couldve used it for Burleson(hell maybe even a 2nd or 3rd Rd pick) and resigned HUTCH

i feel like we would still be playing if that idea was true wink: wink:

 

[Red Neckersom]

Hey DB, just some FYI for you about Alen Faneca, maybe joining the seahawks. Its not for certain, but today while listening to John Clayton on KJR it sounded like getting Faneca is a real possibility, due to massive cap room. They also need to think about changing the offensive line coach.

It sounds like they have the cap room to keep all of their key players and add a couple big names. I can't wait. Tup:

 

[epidemic]

Get rid of Alexander! lol Nothing to do with the above posts but I had to get that off of my chest. I didn't want them to resign him way back when. and Branch will hopefully be alright cause I believe Hacket is a free agent and maybe hard to keep.